Steve Jobs Confirms that AirPrint has not Been Pulled From iOS 4.2

Despite reports earlier this week that suggested AirPrint had been pulled from iOS 4.2, Steve Jobs has confirmed in an email to a MacRumors reader that the wireless printing will feature in the upcoming iOS 4.2 release as promised.

In an email to the Apple CEO, the iPad user asked:

As a release-day purchaser of an iPad, I was elated when you revealed iOS 4.2 would support AirPrint. Now comes reports AirPrint support has been pulled from 4.2. Between announcements/assurances of the whiteiPhone, and now the pulling of AirPrint, is Apple going to lose credibility and become known for announcing “vaporware”?

As usual, Steve’s reply was short and sweet:

AirPrint has not been pulled. Don’t believe everything you read.

Unfortunately, although Steve’s reply rules out the lack of AirPrint altogether, it doesn’t actually state whether the feature will support shared printers connected to a Mac or PC, which is what is rumored to have been removed. The release notes that accompanied the latest iOS 4.2 beta mention wireless printing to HP ePrint Printers, however, there is nothing that suggests printing via OS X which was Apple’s original promise.

At least we know we’ll see AirPrint in some form when we finally get our hands on iOS 4.2. Whether it will be the complete, full-featured AirPrint we originally expected, or a watered-down version that will only support HP printers, we’re yet to find out.